Law Enforcement Rangers Retire from Catoctin Mountain Park

Date: January 27, 2015
Contact: Debra Mills, 301-663-9388

Chief Ranger Holly Rife and Law Enforcement Ranger John Kempisty have retired from the National Park Service effective December 31, 2014.

Chief Ranger Holly Rife worked as a Law Enforcement Ranger at the Jefferson Expansion Memorial (St. Louis Arch), Yosemite National Park and at Biscayne National Park before transferring to Catoctin Mountain Park. While working at Catoctin, she provided oversight to the park's Interpretive and Law Enforcement Divisions. Highlights of her time at the park included working on Presidential Security Details, serving as Incident Commander for a G-8 Summit and organizing an Artist in Residence Program. Ms. Rife and her husband, Norman Gibat are relocating to Ohio.

Law Enforcement Ranger John Kempisty's 31 year career included tours at New York's Gateway National Recreation Area, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Independence National Historic Park. He arrived at Catoctin Mountain Park in 1990. While working at Catoctin, John met several U.S. Presidents, internationalheads of state, and other dignitaries. He assisted at special events including the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah, the 400^th anniversary of Jamestown and the G-8 Summit. John will be remembered locally for his fire prevention work with Smoky Bear. John will continue to reside in the Thurmont area with his wife Teresa, who he met while she was working at Catoctin Mountain Park as a purchasing agent, and his sons Johnnie and Jimmie.

Ranger Michelle Schonzeit has been appointed to act in the Chief Ranger until the position is filled permanently.

Catoctin Mountain Park is one of over 400 units administered by the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. The park Visitor Center, located on State Route 77 three miles west of Thurmont, Maryland, is open from 10:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. daily with the exception of Wednesdays when the office is closed. The Visitor Center will be closed on Federal Holidays November through February.Correspondence should be addressed to: Superintendent, Catoctin Mountain Park, 6602 Foxville Road, Thurmont, MD 21788. Our website address is www.nps.gov/cato.General information can be obtained by calling the Visitor Center at [phone]

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